4 Circulation Emergencies Flashcards
What is angina?
Pain in the chest often spreading to shoulders, arms and neck.
What are the signs and symptoms of angina similar to?
A heart attack
When/Why does a heart attack occur?
The heart cannot get enough oxygen due to a blockage in one of the cardiac arteries.
Classic signs of a heart attack include: (5)
Shortness of breath Dizziness Nausea or vomiting Unresponsive ness Cool, pale, sweaty skin
The sign of angina is:
Chest pain that lasts 10 minutes or less
Immediate care for angina or heart attack?
Rest quietly.
Chew one regular aspirin or 2 low dose aspirin. (No substitutes)
What type of medication may a heart attack person have with them?
Nitroglycerin spray.
What is a typical stroke?
Blood flow to the brain is interrupted. (At any age)
Signs of stroke (4):
Sudden severe headache
Dizziness or confusion
Unresponsive ness
Sudden loss of bowel or bladder control
What does FAST stand for?
Face - numbness or weakness, especially one side
Arm - arm numbness or weakness, especially one side
Speech - slurred, difficulty speaking or understanding
Time - react as quickly as possible
What is the care for a stroke?
Rest comfortably
Note when things started
Critical emergency
What is life threatening (deadly) bleeding?
Bleeding that is difficult to stop or control
Care for deadly bleeding is:
Apply firm, direct pressure on wound.
Maintain pressure and apply a dressing, bandaged in place.
If blood soaks through, add another layer of dressing and bandaging.
If direct pressure does not work, consider a tourniquet.
Which 3 situations might require a tourniquet?
Direct pressure doesn’t work.
Unable to access the wound.
Must move person and cannot maintain direct pressure.
To improvise a tourniquet, use these 5 principles:
Apply a wide thick bandage one hand width above injury and 2 inches above a joint.
Wrap several times around limb and knot.
Use a stick to tighten and secure the tourniquet.
Tie bandage ends to prevent unravelling.
Document the time it was tightened.
When should you suspect internal bleeding?
When there has been a forceful blow to the body.
5 signs of internal bleeding are:
Bruising and pain in the injured area. Soft tissue that is tender, swollen or hard. Blood in saliva or vomit. Severe thirst, nausea or vomiting. Anxiety.
How to treat internal bleeding:
Rest comfortably.
Treat for shock.
Seek emergency medical attention.
